There’s a growing group of concerned folks in Australia spreading the word, helped by the likes of Leo Igwe – human rights activist and long-time supporter of minority groups who are persecuted in Africa and world-wide, particularly those people who are targets of hate mongering sermons and preachings.

Adeboye made headlines in Nigeria earlier this year when he claimed same-sex marriages would lead to the end of the human race.

‘Same-sex marriage is an anathema to the will of God for human beings to be fruitful, replenish and multiply on earth – anything contrary to that is evil,’ Adeboye told a gathering at Obafemi Awolowo University in January.

There are legitimate concerns over Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s proposed evangelical tour of the Pacific in November. Pastor Adeboye is expected to visit Canberra, Melbourne, New Zealand, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Sydney, and Perth next month. He is scheduled to preach at these places, and inaugurate branches of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

A major theme of Redeemed teachings, to its Nigerian audience especially, is that becoming saved protects you from the curses, spells and sorcery that Africans, even Christian ones, commonly blame for all manner of misfortunes, from car accidents to impotence. Church officials in the United States are somewhat averse to talking about this aspect of doctrine. They are well aware of the ridicule that was heaped upon a Kenyan preacher after a video clip of his prayer to protect Sarah Palin from “the spirit of witchcraft,” offered during a guest sermon at her Alaska church, fell into the hands of bloggers.

In fact, like many elements of Africa’s indigenous cosmology, the belief in evil spirits is entirely consistent with mainstream Pentecostal teaching, which holds that God and the Devil — an actual being — are engaged in continual “spiritual warfare.”

Humanist, atheist, secular, wiccan, pro-rights groups of all faiths or no faiths – all can lend a hand, and all can write in or call relevant activists and policy-makers. They’re on Twitter, pass on the word that this is happening, such as @AMEQUALITY. Protests against presentations have occurred in the past in Australia: Equal Love protest Australian Christian Lobby anti-equality forum, Melbourne 2012

Pastor Adeboye has, in this statement, demonstrated his ignorance and bigotry. He showed his inability to use his position to preach and promote love and tolerance of persons without discrimination on the basis of sex or gender identity. Morally, he failed, at a critical stage in the legislation process, to rally support and respect for a persecuted minority.

And I ask: Is that the gospel Adeboye is going to preach and promote in New Zealand where same sex marriage is legal? How does Adeboye think the people in Australia, where homosexuality is not a crime, will receive his ‘message’?

Kylie Sturgess is a Philosophy teacher, media and psychology student, blogger at Patheos and podcaster at Token Skeptic. She has conducted over a hundred interviews including artists, scientists, politicians and activists, worldwide. She’s the author of the ‘Curiouser and Curiouser‘ column at the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry website and travels internationally lecturing on feminism, skepticism, and science.

http://leavingfundamentalism.wordpress.com/ Jonny Scaramanga

No doubt this guy expresses deeply unpleasant views and you’re right not to want him in your country… but does that mean he should be banned? If he’s not breaking hate speech laws (don’t know what Australian legislation is on that subject), shouldn’t it be tolerated on freedom of speech grounds?

I don’t know; I just haven’t heard anyone put forward an argument other than “this guy says horrible stuff”.

perri

saying horrible stuff in a position of power isnt something to stand up against?

The research has been done into ‘he does more than say horrible stuff’ if you look at the petition. See where it says supporting information?

“A person will not pass the character test where … there is a significant risk that the person will … vilify a segment of the Australian community, or incite discord in the Australian community or in a segment of that community, or represent a danger to the Australian community or a segment of that community.”

in the Supporting Evidence:

Adeboye is currently campaigning, from the pulpit, for a proposed Nigerian law making Same Sex Marriage an offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Additionally, he is increasing the danger to anyone seen as being ‘pro-gay’, potentially causing journalists to be too afraid to report the truth. In effect (if not intentionally) Adeboyes campaigning will essentially lead to the outlawing of organizations that provide services for gay people, including HIV/AIDS clinics.

The Nigerian anti-gay law has already been passed by both Houses of Parliament. In addition to criminalising Same Sex Marriage, it also punishes public displays of same sex affection by up to ten years jail. The bill is only awaiting the President’s signature to become law.

The U.S. ambassador to Nigeria has said that Enoch Adeboye is not in line with international human rights laws.

There are serious concerns in the Australian community that some of Adeboye’s ignorant, vulnerable congregation will interpret what he is saying (“Same-sex marriage is an anathema to the will of God”) to mean that it is ‘god’s will’ for them to rid the world of homosexuals. (See Ref#7,8 and 9)

Tricia

There is no such thing as freedom of speech in Australia. No one has the right to run around saying whatever horrible, vile thing they like and the government has, in the past, denied people like this guy entry to the country.

Michael

Pastor Adeboye should be given respect for his views, however wrong, and allowed in. The right to free speech allowed early gay rights activists a way to change outdated Chridtian morals enshrined in law. Adeboye will only ever be a marginal, mostly ridiculed figure.

Why should we give him respect for his views? They are not worthy of respect. Would you respect the racist views of a KKK member? Please think about what you are saying. Sure, he has the right to hold his views, and we have the right to reject them. If he is promoting views which violate human rights, there is no obligation to grant him a visa to enter the country.

Michael

I would support a KKK wizard being allowed to speak, as long as they kept within the law. And I would be outside using my free speech to denounce his views.

You would be naive to think Pastor Adeboye’s views are not already accepted by some people in Australia and New Zealand.

Free Speech is the speech you don’t want to hear. If Free Speech was denied to Homosexual Law Reform campaigners in the 1980s being gay could still be illegal. (The 800,000 signatures against changing the law is still the biggest petition in NZs history.)

Remember, it is love that conquers hate. Or as Ghandi said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.”

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About The Author

Kylie Sturgess is a Philosophy teacher, media and psychology student, blogger at Patheos and podcaster at Token Skeptic. She has conducted over a hundred interviews including artists, scientists, politicians and activists, worldwide.